According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Missouri sees more workplace fatalities than 75% of the other states in America. While workers’ compensation cannot bring deceased workers back after fatal accidents, it can ensure access to compensation and medical treatment for surviving employees and family members. Understanding what workers’ comp covers is crucial for both small businesses and their employees. This is a type of insurance that offers extensive benefits, from reducing out-of-pocket expenses to covering employees in case of extended absences. Whether it’s an illness or an accident on the job, workers’ comp can potentially step in to alleviate the financial strain. The coverage is oftentimes comprehensive, taking care of medical expenses, partial lost wages, and even ongoing care costs like physical therapy. Importantly, it’s a safety net that applies regardless of who’s at fault for the workplace incident. To learn more, consult with a workers’ compensation lawyer in Missouri. Call (573) 341.8336 to learn more about your legal rights with Steelman Gaunt Crowley today.
What Does Workers’ Comp Cover?
Workers’ compensation insurance—also known as workers’ comp—provides a wide range of benefits to employees who sustain injuries, get sick from a work-related cause, or in worst-case scenarios, die due to difficult circumstances at work. There’s more to this coverage than meets the eye. Let’s get into the details.
Medical Expenses
One of the primary benefits covered by workers’ comp is the reimbursement of medical expenses. Any costs incurred due to doctor visits, hospitalizations, surgeries, medications, and even emergency care due to a work-related injury are covered. This could mean the difference between an employee facing financial ruin due to medical costs and being able to afford the necessary treatments to recover and return to work.
Missed Wages
Workplace injuries or illnesses often mean time away from work. This can lead to lost wages, which can make an employee’s financial situation difficult. Workers’ comp, however, covers partial lost wages.
Ongoing Care
Sometimes, injuries from work can require more than just immediate medical attention; they can require ongoing treatment. This could include physical therapy or any other form of rehabilitation. Workers’ comp includes coverage for these costs, ensuring that an employee is fully recovered.
Funeral Costs
In the tragic event of a workplace-related death, workers’ comp also provides coverage for funeral costs. The goal is to ease the burden on grieving families, taking care of necessary expenses after a fatal workplace accident in Missouri. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average American funeral costs about $7,850.
Vocational Retraining Benefits
In some cases, work-related injuries may cause a permanent disability, which means an employee can’t go back to their previous job. In such a situation, workers’ comp can provide vocational retraining benefits. This means the employee can get the education and training they need to embark on a new career path.
Independent Medical Evaluation (IME)
At times, there might be discrepancies or disagreements about the medical condition of an injured worker. An Independent Medical Evaluation (IME) can be conducted by a medical professional who is not previously involved with the worker’s care. Workers’ comp can cover the cost of this examination, avoiding any unnecessary financial strain.
Mileage
Another less-known benefit of workers’ comp is mileage coverage. This benefit comes in handy
when a worker must travel a significant distance to receive the required medical care following a work-related injury. Whether it’s the distance to a hospital, a physical therapist, or a specialist, workers’ comp can cover the related transportation costs.
Each of these elements contributes to why workers’ comp is not just necessary but also a crucial component of any workplace’s safety net. Different accidents may lead to different benefits, and it is best to discuss your unique circumstances alongside Steelman Gaunt Crowley.
What Isn’t Covered by Workers’ Comp Insurance?
There are certain conditions and circumstances not covered by this form of insurance. Clarifying these specifics can help both employers and employees manage expectations and plan accordingly. In many cases, workers’ comp does not cover injuries or illnesses that aren’t directly related to the employee’s job. If an injury or illness happens outside of employment duties, it also may not be covered, unless it’s directly linked to the job. Moreover, unlike Part A, Part B of the coverage will cover you only in certain circumstances against liability to third parties who suffer damages as a result of an employee’s injury that is caused by negligence.
Understanding Workers’ Compensation Insurance Limitations
Workers’ comp also has limitations when it comes to particular types of injuries or diseases. For instance, a bodily injury by accident often has a monetary limit set at around $100,000 per accident, and diseases may need to stay within a policy limit of approximately $500,000 or have a limit of $100,000 for each employee.
Note that while different types of injuries, diseases, and various scenarios are covered under workers’ comp, there are maximum thresholds in place that the coverage will not exceed. Rehabilitation costs arising from an injury, while typically covered, only comprise a certain type of rehabilitation. For instance, vocational retraining costs following a permanent disability may be included, but other types of rehabilitation may not.
Finally, instances related to self-insurance difficulties, medical fee disputes, and workers’ compensation claim issues may require additional support. In such cases, reaching out to the Division of Workers’ Compensation would be of help. While workers’ comp is a broadly essential safety net, it does have certain boundaries and limitations that companies and workers should be aware of to avoid any unexpected surprises. Consider visiting with an experienced Missouri workers’ compensation attorney to learn more about your legal and financial rights.
Who Is Covered and Not Covered by Workers’ Comp?
Not all injuries or illnesses are covered under workers’ compensation in Missouri, particularly those not directly related to the job. Certain types of injuries and diseases also fall outside its purview. Additionally, there are caps on what can be claimed under different circumstances. Companies may face challenges with self-insurance or disputes over medical fees, often needing additional help from the Division of Workers’ Compensation.
Contact a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Missouri
To learn more about workers’ compensation coverage after an accident, consult with a workers’ comp lawyer in Missouri. Learn more about your legal and financial rights following a workplace accident that resulted in injuries and losses. Call (573) 341.8336 today to discuss your options with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney at Steelman Gaunt Crowley.
